LIVERPOOL midfielder Jordan Henderson is prepared to be patient in his determination to prove he is not a big-money flop at Anfield.

The 22-year-old arrived from Sunderland in the summer of 2011 with a hefty £16m price tag which raised eyebrows among Premier League rivals.

As a result he has been lumped in with the rest of former manager Kenny Dalglish’s expensive signings – mainly Andy Carroll (£35m) and Stewart Downing (£20m) – for failing to provide value for money.

Dalglish being replaced by Brendan Rodgers in the summer has not helped and with Carroll sent out on loan to West Ham, Henderson and Downing have been only bit-part players.

They are two of the first names brought up in speculation about an overhaul of the playing staff but Henderson dismisses suggestions he has been written off.

“From the outside it probably looks like that because of how much I played last year, and this season I haven’t started a Premier League game,” he said.

“But I am coming into

training every day, working hard and learning all the things I need to learn and I will continue to learn the game as the manager keeps telling me.

“I am very focused on what I need to do and it doesn’t make a difference what anyone else thinks.

“I want my future to be at Liverpool so I’ll give everything every day to make sure that happens.

“I definitely think in the future, given the opportunity I will take it and become a first-team regular for Liverpool.”

Henderson’s move to Anfield has not been the smoothest as, even when he was playing regularly under Dalglish, it was rarely in his preferred central role.

Henderson is likely to get a run out tonight as the Europa League Group A leaders face Anzi Makhachkala – whom they beat a fortnight ago at Anfield – having previously made five starts in seven matches in the competition.

He accepts that while he is not in the frame for Premier League games, he has to seize every opportunity to show Rodgers his value to the team.

“It is hard when you don’t play but you have to continue to work hard and fight for your place every day – and it’s not been all bad for me,” the England under-21 international said.

“I have still played a few games here and there – Europa League and Capital One Cup – and I’ve been getting games for the under-21s as well.

“Obviously I want to be playing games in the Premier League but if I keep putting in good performances I am sure my chance will come some time soon and it is up to me to take it.

“I am improving as a player and I’ve learned a lot since the new manager came in and he’s helped with different things in my game,” he added.

“This is a massive opportunity for me to give the manager food for thought, stand up and be counted.”